I was wondering if anyone out there has recommendations for alleviating brain fog/cloudy thinking that comes with ME. The fatigue with this is distressing no doubt, but not having a clear head frstrates me to no end. I have been dealing with this for 2 years now, and take a multitude of supplements that have helped me some on the fatigue scale. But this brain fog has episodes that really are hard, and I can't seem to link anything in particular to these phases. I basically have to write everything down now or I forget, like why I came into a room. Being 49 and well educated I get angry trying to find the answer to things that came so easily. What is it with the cognitive issues with ME? Does the brian not get enough of something? Too much of something? And lastly, are there any supplements or meds that help these symptoms? I would also throw a more off-balance feeling into this mix......like I could tip over easier. Fun stuff.

Hi Minnesota, this is a very frustrating illness isn't it. I have had this for about 7 years & just can't seem to figure it out either. At my worst, with the cognitive problems, I carried around a day planner that I had everything in. People, phone #'s, addresses, lists, lists lists. Everything I thought of I put in there & it helped me a lot. I called it my brain & carried it everywhere. lol! I quit using it a few years ago because I just got tired of carrying it around. So now I just do my best to remember & use my smart phone & apps to keep track of things.

I am trying dark chocolate (85% cocoa) to see if this will help my energy & cognitive problems, been on it about 10-12 days. I did some reading about it on the internet & decided to give it a try. It takes about 5 or 6 weeks to really see an improvement. I really haven't noticed much of a difference but I do think I am more awake & less foggy. I find myself engaging in conversations & reading more, also, I am looking into things I gave up & feel like doing them again which is odd since I am feeling really tired but my brain is more alert. Is this due to the chocolate? I have no idea but usually this time of year I am down for the count. Maybe I am just seeing a placebo effect.

Caren, from this forum, has seem a marked improvement in her cognitive functions with Magnesium Malate. She will hopefully come on & tell you about it. She has been on it for about 6 weeks now & has seen a large change. I am excited to try it as soon as I am further along with the dark chocolate.

I am hoping for a big change with these but we will see. What do you do for fatigue? I would love if you would share. Many hugs, DeniseFibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11

Great recommendations! I will get some MM and dark chocolate today. Even if they just help a bit that would be great. For fatigue issues, I have seen some improvement by taking the following: NT factor. D ribose, amino acid power mix, and Tyrosine. I would say I regained about 25% of my lost energy levels by taking these supplements all together. Trace minerals may also be on my list as others have recommended this too. It is great to see what others have tried in this forum, and get some real world reports. My doctor says there may be an immune system modulator to try and will dicuss this at my appointment in 3 weeks. I guess there is so much trial and error with ME. Having patience is hard, because you just want something to work and bring some health back. I am coming up on my 2 year anniversay of getting ill which is causing me to reflect back a lot. Almost seems like a different person then compared to now. Onward.

With the dark choc., I read up on it on the internet. The study that was done seems encouraging, at least 2 of the participants have gone back to work. They aren't really sure why it helps people with CFS but I am up for the challenge.

I will check into the supplements you have listed, I would love to have more energy especially now that it is getting cold & damp. This time of year I usually sleep a lot more & just lay around in my pajamas all day & then sleep again. My life is so different then the one I used to have. It does take patience, I have learned to be patient & get from one part of the year to another where I have more energy. Lol, what a life. Hugs, DeniseFibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11

Hi, I am brand new here and I have the same thing plus memory loss. The Dr. says that even though I have brain damage from an accident I should not have ANY symptoms. They did a scan and found that I had a meningioma (brain tumor) and over time, it continued to grow (still no symptoms) and I opted to have it removed. I have no after effects and never had one seizure, so YAY!

I have bad seasonal allergies and thought that may be why I feel this way but no matter what time of year, or what I take or don't take for the allergies, I still feel the same.

The severe fatigue, brain fog and memory loss worsens by the day. My blood work comes back as perfect including thyroid and it makes ZERO sense... SO FRUSTRATING!!

I researched adrenal fatigue and have those symptoms and PTSD. I have been medicated for depression and have taken every anti depressant on the market over the last 8 years and nothing phases me. I just go through hell getting off of them.

I have symptoms of ADD and they gave me adderall which DOES help me, but I forget to take it and you can't take it late day -(I already have sleep issues, don't need more) plus it makes me jittery.

I got off of all soda and consume NO aspartame, only stevia. I drink a lot of water and eat fairly healthy. That is really important so if you drink soda, ESPECIALLY diet soda, or consume anything with artificial sweetener, I do recommend stopping. Also the eight or more glasses of filtered water a day.

I have a referral to see a memory specialist but can't afford the visit.

Hi,Have you tried doing a yeast cleanse? Sometimes yeast can build up in our gut, because of antibiotics and our diet depleting our normal good bacteria, and other medications like steroids. The good bacteria are what keep the yeast buds under control, but when there are not enough good bacteria, the yeast over take your gut. The yeast then pokes little microscopic holes in the lining of your gut, causing leaky gut syndrome. This then allows toxins from your gut and waste to leak into your system. The toxins can then affect your nervous system including your brain. This is where the foggy brain comes in. I had this really bad years ago, along with IBS, acne, eczema. I did a strict yeast cleanse diet, eliminating foods with yeast, wheat/gluten, sugar, even fruit for the first few weeks, corn/corn products, vinegar, salad dressing (made my own with olive oil and lime or lemon), alcohol (especially beer and wine), mushrooms and moldy cheeses (Feta, Blue cheese). I took Caprylic acid, Pau D'Arco, Probiotics, and also yeast killing enzymes. And I did a 2 week prescription for Diflucan. I slowly re-introduced fruit into my diet after a few weeks, and then after 6 months slowly re-introduced other foods. I try to do a yeast cleanse for a month at a time once a year now to maintain a healthy gut, and I have stayed Gluten free. It has helped a lot with the brain fog and the other symptoms, my IBS is gone too! I learned a lot about it from The Yeast Connection website and books. Huge help. IT lists many symptoms of yeast overgrowth, brain fog is just one of them!.Check it out to see if you think it may apply to you.Good luck and I hope you get some answers!

Natalie-Thank you for this response, and timely. During my 3 year ordeal with this, I have also had a few GI issues that I have never had before in my life outside of CFS. Bloating, cramping, and a constant full feeling even when not eating. I should probably try something like this, obviously can't hurt. Have you ever heard of the vagus nerve, and that being behind CFS and GI issues? Did a little research and was really interested to hear how that nerve can control the stomach in regard to digestion, etc. I had a whiplash concussion a few years ago to start my CFS episodes. Current doc brought this up to me last week after an MRI showed some narrowing in my cervical area. Curious if you have heard anything about that nerve at all.....

Hi I'm new here 52 year old female with brain fog really bad the last few months, I find it hard to concentrate or focus and don't sleep well. My lists have lists, if I don't write it down I will forget it. MRI came back clear. It's very frustrating and scary any help would be appreciated. Thanks Dotty

There is also an MRI that can reveal blood flow to the brain, which is an obvious suspect with brain fog. One treatment that I have had some success with for that is saline IV's. I always have a few days relief from brain fog after this. I also take vyvanse, which is an ADD medication but has been used to treat CFS. I find that those 2 treatments have worked the best for me, and allow me to continue to work FT. Without those, that would not be possible. So for me it is a quality of life issue, and also an economic one. You may want to check on those, and give them a trial run. It has helped me.

I actually had a procedure performed yesterday to clean out a bile duct that had some "sludge" in it..docs words...and have a stent put in. GI doc said this was probably why have been having issues the past few months, so we will see. I have gone lactose free and reduced (not eliminated) gluten in the past few weeks.

Is there anything else I should be trying for CFS? How do you get sleep under control and how do you help fatigue? Ive heard Gingko Biloba is good for blood flow to brain?Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)

The saline IV's help with blood volume...thus the help in brain functioning. Google Dr. Bell when you can, he says this is his most effective treatment for CFS. Only hassle is having to go to an infusion center 3x a month to do this. But, having some relief is priceless. Also, the vyvanse is the single treatment for my CFS that I could not be without. I get a bump in energy and also ability to focus better. My doc is open minded, and regards quality of life as so important in treating patients. Is there some risk? Maybe some, but the risk of not having these benefits is worse in my opinion. I am 50 years old, and need to make it to 55 and could probably retire if I can continue to work FT. The supplements you listed are all good ones, I have tried them as well. L Carnitine is one I like as well. For sleep, I take melatonin.....seems to work most of the time. I am also on a small dosage of wellbutrin to deal with the mental aspects of this which as we all know can be tough on a person. In sum, I have tried many regimens of this and that, and now am settled in on something that seems to be making me as functional as possible. How long have you been dealing with CFS?

I have had it just over a year - not sure if i have fibro also, but its the CFS aspect I struggle with

Biggest problems for me are sleep, energy and sore throats!!! What can be done for sore throats???

My friend had CFS and she is a high flying lawyer and she had these saline infusions...we are in UK, not sure how to get them here...I will chat to her about it

Have you tried Gingko Biloba? I am 35 and have had to give up work...i do have 2 kids and have been staying home to look after them... i would like to get back to part time

I have adrenal fatigue also - found out through a saliva test

It sounds like you have a very well functioning life (i remember you said you also exercise in a previous post) is there anyway you could write your story in brief, what you have tried what your main symptoms were and how you have overcome them?

It would help me and probably others on here

I am about to try juicing to get some clean nutrition into me

Thanks xxDiagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)

I am not doing it for losing weight - more for nutrition and clean living...i will add it to my meal intake as I can't afford to lose weight - will keep you posted - just bought a juicerDiagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)

I will try to tell me story and be brief. First of all, I have had 3 concussions in my life which may have set the stage for some of what I am dealing with now. First weekend in December of 2010 I came down with what seemed like a minor bout with the flu. Basically I have not felt the same since. Initially I was getting bad headaches along with the fatigue and spaciness so down the road I went with numerous doctors. All tests were coming back normal yet my condition was still unimproved. I was found to be low normal in testosterone, and was put on injections to raise this. No real improvement with this, and eventually I found my way to the famed mayo clinic here in MN. After 2 days there, again no tests that could reveal anything. Only my subjective statements of unusual unrelenting tiredness and a feeling of being off balance. A balance test showed deficiencies, but not glaring. After one year I actually had a friend who was taking Adderall for ADD let me try one....and I noticed improvement. I brought this to my doctors attention, and he had me try Provigil first. This didn't do much, so he prescribed Adderall. Being that I wanted to still work and have some social life, my doc realized that quality of life mattered a lot to me and that being on a small dose under his care was a good decision. I starting augmenting this with other supplements to see what the best combination was. b12, D ribose, L carnitine, and DHEA all seemed to help a bit. But even with this, I was just keeping my head above water in regard to keeping my job. Then I had a number of gastro issues flare up that has to be part of the whole CFS thing. I never had any of those problems until the CFS hit. I think it is so critical to have a doctor who believes in what you are dealing with, because fatigue and brain fog are so subjective and hard to really quantify. I realize I have a mild case of this, and am appreciative of the fact that I can still work FT (some days are very tough though) and exercise a bit. I made a vow early on with this that I can't let CFS dictate my life. My time with family and being able to provide for them means everything. I guess that is why I push through many events in order to be fairly normal looking. That is also why I am willing to take a bit of a risk medication-wise to allow me the chance to participate in things I took for granted when fully healthy. Being dog tired all the time is depressing, so any combination that can pull me out of that state is priceless. In sum, Vyvanse and Saline IV's plus some supplements are what I have found to make me the most functional.

thanks Minnesota - i think finding the doctor is key then that will work with you...its hard over here, not many docs believe in it. I am on list of a CFS clinic but i think they take the approach of graded exercise and CBT, i will take that, as its free (NHS) but as far as tests go, i would have to go private for this...

I know i am low on adrenals and DHEA - but not sure how to supplement in this without guidance of someone. I have spent so much money on supplements and fads and nothing has made any diff yet....

Some days I feel okayish and am able to walk quite far, but then it hits next day or after...I realise that most of my problems stem from sleep, so getting this right is key for me, I am on another list for a sleep study and to see sleep doctor/...I have tried so many meds and i get fed up with them and never give them a chance as im trying to keep up with my family and life and hate feeling so crap..

Last year i seemed to make a bit of improvement, sun helped me and my joints, i was able to do some day trips of which i was quite proud of..i am not deficient in vitamin d though (was tested for that)

Im double checking my thyroid again as last time i was near to Hyperthyroid, i dont get on well with SSRIs or SNRIs because of this, they make me manic

Im sure i will get there somehow, something will fall in to place and i should see improvement. Mine just seem to happen overnight, my homeopath think a flu jab was the straw that broke the camels back :(Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)